DWTS SHOCKER REVISITED: Kelly Monaco Breaks Silence on Controversial Season 1 Win!

It’s been 20 years since Dancing With the Stars‘ first season aired, but runner-up John O’Hurley still isn’t over his loss to General Hospital vet Kelly Monaco.

As the competition between the two heated up during that inaugural run, O’Hurley’s technique was a favorite of both the judges and viewers, while Monaco experienced a wardrobe mishap and took a couple spills on the dance floor. And yet, Monaco stunned everyone, including herself, by taking home the Mirror Ball trophy, sparking speculation that the winner was predetermined before the final results.

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“It was a shock to me. She got three 10s and she fell several times during the final piece,” O’Hurley tells Entertainment Weekly in a new oral history about Season 1. “I was scratching my head as to how this all happened. So, obviously there were some issues. I’ll leave it at that.”

Even Monaco admitted to being surprised by her win: “They bleeped it, but [when they said I won], I looked at Tom Bergeron and I said, ‘Are you f—ing kidding me?'” she shares. “It was mind blowing. It was one of the best feelings in the world.”

For judge Carrie Ann Inaba, the upset taught her that “people vote with their heart and people watch the show with their heart,” she says. “They don’t really care about technique. I’m sort of in that vein too, because of the way I grew up where dance was more about storytelling. I’m always for voting with your heart.”

Dancing With the Stars kicks off its 34th season this fall (airing Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC), and while we don’t know the full list of celebrity competitors yet, four names have been announced: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Jennifer Affleck and Whitney Leavitt are putting on their dancing shoes, as are wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, the younger brother of Season 21 winner Bindi Irwin (with pro Derek Hough), and social media influencer Alix Earle.

Check out the gallery below of Dancing With the Stars Winners, Ranked.